Antwerp 1920

The tragic upheaval of World War I postponed the 1916 Games that had been scheduled to be held in Berlin. The 1920 Games were awarded to Antwerp, in part to honour the suffering that had been inflicted on the Belgian people during the war.

Key Facts

Opening date :

20 April 1920

Closing date :

12 September 1920

Host nation:

Belgium (BEL)

Number of nations:

29

Number of athletes:

2,626 (2,561 men, 65 women)

Number of sports:

22

Number of events:

154

Opening Flagbearer

George Parker

Medal Tally

Nations

1

United States of America

41

27

27

2

Sweden

19

20

25

3

Great Britain

16

15

13

4

Finland

15

10

9

16

Australia

0

2

1

Note: Medal tally as at end of Games

Despite persistent rain, the traumatic toll of war, and the exclusion of the Allies’ vanquished enemies - Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey - the Antwerp Games served to revive the Olympics after eight long years.

The Antwerp Games were built on the themes of peace and harmony. The Opening Ceremony was notable for the introduction of the Olympic flag (designed in 1913) and the Olympic Oath (or Athletes’ Oath). Belgian Victor Boin, a former water polo medallist who would win a fencing medal at the Games, became the first person to read the oath on behalf of the competitors during the Opening Ceremony. In the wake of the war, conditions for athletes were sometimes lacking, but earnest organisers and the hearty spirit of the local community ensured a good atmosphere for competition.

Australia at these Games

Australia had a team of thirteen athletes, twelve men and one woman, in Antwerp. Unlike previous Games, Australia competed separately and not with New Zealand in a combined Australasian team.

Australia won three medals, two silver and a bronze. Walker and flag bearer George Parker was second in the 3000m walk, and the 4x200m freestyle relay team - Frank Beaurepaire, Henry Hay, William Herald and Ivan Stedman - chased home the champion US team. (Keith Kirkland had swum in the heats of the relay, but was replaced by Beaurepaire for the final. He did not receive a medal, but would if competing today.)

The other medal was won by Beaurepaire in the 1500m, adding to his two medals won in 1908. His sister, Lily, was the sole woman participant for Australia, racing in both the 100m and 400m freestyle events. Another notable representative was hurdler Wilfred Kent-Hughes, who raced in the 110m and 400m hurdle events. He would later be chairman of the Melbourne 1956 Olympic organising committee.

Ironically, the only Australian to carry away a gold meal from Antwerp was Dan Carroll, the playing coach of the American rugby team and a former Wallaby winger.

Australian Olympians At The Games

Flag Bearers

Australian Medallists At The Games

No records found.

History

The tragic upheaval of World War I postponed the 1916 Games that had been scheduled to be held in Berlin. The 1920 Games were awarded to Antwerp, in part to honour the suffering that had been inflicted on the Belgian people during the war.

Despite persistent rain, the traumatic toll of war, and the exclusion of the Allies’ vanquished enemies - Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey - the Antwerp Games served to revive the Olympics after eight long years.

The Antwerp Games were built on the themes of peace and harmony. The Opening Ceremony was notable for the introduction of the Olympic flag (designed in 1913) and the Olympic Oath (or Athletes’ Oath). Belgian Victor Boin, a former water polo medallist who would win a fencing medal at the Games, became the first person to read the oath on behalf of the competitors during the Opening Ceremony. In the wake of the war, conditions for athletes were sometimes lacking, but earnest organisers and the hearty spirit of the local community ensured a good atmosphere for competition.

The American team dominated, winning 95 medals, including 41 gold – more than double the gold medal total of the second-placed team, Sweden. The US women’s swimming team, led by triple gold medallist Ethelda Bleibtrey, swept all six events. Shooter Willis Lee was also outstanding, winning five gold, a silver and a bronze.

Italy’s Nedo Nadi was the non-American star of the Games, winning gold medals in five of the six fencing events in a performance unequaled in Olympic history. His younger brother, Aldo, also won three gold medals in fencing. The brothers are regarded among the legends of the sport.

Another strong performer was Albert Hill of Great Britain, who won the 800m and 1500m double on the track. It would be 44 years until this performance was repeated by New Zealand’s Peter Snell at the Tokyo Olympics.

The AOC is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation, committed to the development of youth and sport. It is our responsibility to select, send and fund Australian Teams to the Olympic Games.

This is achieved by the support of our sponsors, contributions from the Australian Olympic Foundation (AOF), fundraising at corporate events and the backing of State and Territory Governments who donate to our Olympic Team Appeal.

The Australian Olympic Committee thanks all of our partners for their generous support of the Olympic athletes.